Meaning

(historical) The lowest servant in a household charged with pots, pans, and other kitchen equipment..

Definitions by Sense

1. (historical) The lowest servant in a household charged with pots, pans, and other kitchen equipment.
2. (dated, chiefly of men) An unprincipled, contemptible person; an untrustworthy person.
3. (archaic) A man who uses foul language in front of a woman (typically a woman of high standing).
4. (transitive) To revile or abuse in scurrilous language.
5. (intransitive) To act like a blackguard; to be a scoundrel.

Example Sentences

1830, Thomas Macaulay, Review of Robert Southey's edition of Pilgrim's Progress, in the Edinburgh Review A man whose manners and sentiments are decidedly below those of his class deserves to be called a blackguard.

2006, Jan Freeman, Blaggards' of the year – Boston Globe "Arrr, keelhaul the blaggards!" wrote Ty Burr in the Globe last summer, pronouncing sentence on the malefactors who brought us the second "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie.

Pawn another man's property for the sake of a meal, eat and drink one's self to perdition, brand one's soul with the first little sear, set the first black mark against one's honour, call one's self a blackguard to one's own face, and needs must cast one's eyes down before one's self? Never! never!

Persons who passed each other in boats upon the Thames used to blackguard each other, in a trial of wit

The Southern Region takes, in the main, a candid line with its public. […] An ill-informed attempt to blackguard the railway publicly is likely to see the complainant put politely—but very firmly—in his place.

And then the drink is very pleasant to us, and keeps up our spirits; for what could a woman in my position do without spirits, without being able to talk and blackguard and give every fellow she meets as good as he brings?

Word Forms

• blackguards
• blaggard
• blackguarding
• blackguarded

Synonyms for blackguard

Related Words

When Should You Use Blackguard?

Use blackguard when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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